Combination toy gun holster and package



March 25, 1952 A. F. LANGOS COMBINATION TOY GUN HOLSTER AND PACKAGE 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Dec. 21, 1949 INVENTOR. CZZfredZZa BY W a. W

March 25, 1952 A. F. LANGOS 2,590,187

COMBINATION TOY GUN HOLSTER AND PACKAGE Filed Dec. 21, 1949 r 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. Qfredflazggoa Patented Mar. 25, 1952 COMBINATION TOY GUN HOLSTER AND PACKAGE Alfred F. Langos, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Langson Manufacturing (30., Chicago, 111., a. corp ration of Illinois Application December 21, 1949, Serial No. 134,290

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a combined carton and holster for a toy gun.

In the past, toy guns have been marketed in cartons, and holsters for such guns have also been marketed as separate articles, and sometimes the guns and holsters have been sold together, but the holsters have been relatively expensive articles, and thus increased the cost of a gun and holster so as to decrease the sale of guns. Toy gun cartons, on the other hand, while relatively cheap, have not in the past lent themselves to use as holsters.

It is an object of the invention to provide a combined packaging carton and holster for a toy gun, such as a pistol or a so-called automatic.

Another object is the provision of a toy gun carton which may readily be formed into a belthung holster for the gun packaged therein.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combined carton and holster for a toy gun shaped to conform generally to the shape of the gun, and having a portion thereof provided to support the gun and yet prevent jamming of the muzzle therein.

It is also an object to provide a combine carton and holster for a toy gun provided with means for engagement by a garment belt or similar band for support of the holster.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a combined carton and holster for a toy gun which permits furnishing a holster with each toy gun purchased, without cost to the purchaser.

A feature of my invention is the provision of a sturdy, attractively printed carton for a toy pistol adapted for shipping, display, and then the final sale packaging of the toy, and yet of such construction as to be quickly converted by a child into a holster in which the toy pistol can be carried on the belt in a conventional holster manner.

Another feature is the provision of a combination package carton and holster for a toy pistol constructed from a paperboard blank folded into a glued and flap-connected and secured box.

By the present invention, I provide carton for a toy gun which may readily be converted into a serviceable holster. The increase in cost of the present carton over that of conventional cartons is so slight as to be hardly appreciable, and is altogether negligible in the cost of the packaged gun; The combined gun and holster 0f the present invention, therefore, provides a means for supplying a holster with each gun sold, without any increased cost to the purchaser, thus facilitating sales or" such toy guns.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention.

the combined carton and holster is formed as a paperboard carton, and has the general shape of a trapezoid, so that it will conform substantially to the outline of a toy pistol or the like. One of the main or side walls of the carton is provided with lines of weakness, each defining a portion which may be stripped or pushed out of the wall to leave an aperture through which a belt or similar supporting band may be fitted to carry the holster at a desired part of the body. Similar aperture-forming portions are provided in a top flap hinged on this side wall, which provide apertures which will register with the apertures in the side wall when the flap is folded into overlying relation with the side wall. This provides a double thickness of material at the belt-receiving portion which constitutes the area of greatest strain and wear, to thus increase the life of the holster. The other main or side wall which would be that one visible when hung from the belt is provided with a tear line which extends at an angle from the top edge thereof to the lower end of the shorter of its parallel edges. Another tear line is provided extending from the top edge of this other side wall to the first tear line, substantially parallel to the shorter edge, so that the portion defined between the tear lines and the top edge may be readily torn away to make the butt of the toy gun carried in the holster free of the holster and readily available for gripping. It will be seen that the second tear line may be disposed in the shorter end wall or in the other side wall adjacent that end wall, if desired, so that all or a portion of the shorter end wall may be removed along with the upper portion of the other side wall. Again, however, the upper portion of the carton as it is described, may betorn only along the second tear line between the end wall and the second side wall, and the upper-portion of the side wall folded along the first tear line to lie against the side wall. Suitable means such as a slit into which a part of the folded portion is inserted may be used to hold the upper portion in position. The end wall may be torn off, a suitable tear line being provided, if desired, or may be folded to lie between the first side Wall and the top flap. It will be seen that the'upper portion of the second side wall and the shorter end wall may be employed to give great strength and rigidity to the carton when it is converted into a holster, reinforcing the holster to: give it greater life. The longer edges of the side walls are connected by an end wall longer than the first one, and the remaining portions of theside wall edges are connected by suitable tuck flaps.

Although the carton and holster has been (i..- scribed as trapezoidal in shape, a bottom wall is preferably provided between the longer end wall and the angular portion extending from the lower end of the shorter end wall, so as to provide a support for the muzzle portion of the gun and prevent the gun jamming in a sharp angle oetween the longer end wall and the angular portion. This bottom wall is supplied by a tuck flap.

Although the carton and holster is disclosed as preferably of the collapsible carton type, formed of paperboard, it will readily be appreciated that other materials than paperboard may be used, and that the carton maybe in the form of a set up box, if desired. The collapsible carton construction, of course, has the usual advantages of economy in space, time and expense in shipping and storage, as well as lower cost than a set up box.

For a fuller disclosure of the invention and other objects, features and advantages thereof, reference is had to the following description, together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the invention, as a carton, with a toy gun therein;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carton shown in Fig 1, in open but uncollapsed condition;

Fig. 3 is a plan of a blank from which the carton of Figs. 1 and 2 may be formed;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing the combined carton and holster employed as a holster to carry a toy gun, and supported on the body of a user;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the holster;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the holster as shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is an end view of the holster taken from the left in Fig. 5.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a combined carton and holster H) which may be formed from the blank I l shown in Fig. 3. The carton comprises side walls l2 and 13 of generally trapezoidal shape, having two substantially parallel edges extending perpendicularly to a top edge, one of these parallel edges extending substantially the full length of the wall, and the other being considerably shorter. The wall also has a bottom edge substantiall parallel to the top edge extending inwardly from the longer 5 parallel edge, and an edge portion extending at an angle from the lower end of the shorter parallel edge to the inner end of the bottom edge. End walls i4 and [5 connect the side walls i2 and I3 along their parallel edges, the end wall 54 extending along the longer parallel edges, and the end wall I5 extending along the shorter parallel edges. On the top edge of the side wall 12 is hinged a top flap it having a tuck portion 11, and tabs 18 are hinged on the top edges of the end walls [4 and I5.

On the angular edges of the side walls i2 and 13 are hinged suitable flaps serving as a wall element to close the space between theside walls when the carton is set up. These flaps comprise a locking flap 19 shown in this instance as connected to the side wall l2, and having a slot 2-3 adjacent its hinge line. A tuck flap 2% ha ing a tuck portion 22 is hinged on the other side wall to overlap the fiap E9 in the erected condition the carton with the tuck portion 22 inserted through the slot 2!! to lock the flaps. On the bottom edge of the end wall 14 is hinged a tuck flap 23 having a tuck portion 24, and on the bottom edges of the side walls are hinged tabs 25, the tuck flap 23 closing the space between the end wall It and the overlapping flaps l9 and 2! when the carton is set up, the tuck portion 24 extending between the tabs 25 and the lower edges of the flaps I9 and 2!, as well known in the art. The tuck flap 23 serves as a bottom wall for the carton. A glue flap 26 is provided for securing one of the end walls to a side wall, in the usual manner of the art, the construction as shown in this case having the shorter end wall l5 and glue flap 26 as terminal panels of the blank II, as shown in Fig. 3, and as also evident from Figs. 1 and 2. Of course, the blank may readily be modified to provide for securing the longer end wall i l to one of the side walls, as will be clear to those skilled in the carton art.

In the side wall l2, spaced a desired distance below the top edge thereof, there are provided aperture-forming portions 27, defined by lines of weakness 28, such as perforated lines or suitable score lines. The portions 27 extend longitudinally of the side wall, and parallel to each other. Similar portions 2's are formed. in the top closure flap l6, and the portions in the side wall and in the top flap are so related that they will come into registration when the top flap it is folded about its hinge line and brought into overlying relation with the side wall 52. The portion 2! may be stripped or punched out of the side wall and top fiap to provide apertures 29 (Fig. 5). A pair of portions 2? is shown in each of the top flaps and side wall l2, but more may be provided, if desired.

In the side wall is is provided a line of weakness 36, such as a perforated line, which extends from the lower end of the end wall 15 to the upper end of the end wall I l, and another similar line of weakness 3! is provided along the connection between the side wall !3 and end wall l5, extending from the top edge of the carton to the bottom edge of the end wall 15. If desired, the tear line 3| may be provided in the end wall I 5, or in the glue flap 2%, or in the sidewall 12 adjacent the end wall l5, or a similar line of weakness (not shown) may be so provided, in addition to the line 3!.

The various panels of the blank 1 I corresponding to the walls and flaps of the carton, and the other parts or elements thereof, have been designated by the same reference numerals as the corresponding carton parts, and the relative positions of the blank panels and the carton walls and flaps are, of course, the same, allowance being made for the difference betweenthe set up and blank form of the carton. To form the carton. the blank is folded along the one or the other of the edges or" the end wall panel I 3, and either the end wall panel 15 or the glue fiap panel 26 folded along its hinge line to overlap the adjacent part and glued. The carton is then in collapsed condition and it may be so left until it is to be used, when it may be squared up in the usual manner and the flaps I9 and 2| folded and interlocked as already described, and the flaps 25 then folded and the flap 23 secured by means of the tuck portion as as described. The gun may be inserted through the top of the carton, and the tabs it then folded down and the tuck flap I5 used to close the carton by means of the tuck portion H. The gun G is shown in the closed carton H] in Fig. l, and it will be seen that the carton is a size and shape to enclose the gun without jamming, and without permitting too great a play thereof within the carton. It may also be pointed out that the muzzle of the gun engages the bottom wall 23, except as the tabs 2E may intervene, and that the proportions are such that the muzzle of v walls.

In Figs. 4 to '7, the container is shown as a holster for the gun G. The container is changed from the carton form to the holster form by tearing off the tabs l8, which may readily be done along their hinge lines, and punching out the portions 2'! to provide the apertures 29, as previously described. The upper or access portion of the side wall I3 between the tear line 36 and the top edge of the wall isremoved by tearing along the line 30 and again along the tear line 3|, leaving the end wall l5 hinged along one edge to the side wall l2. This shorter end wall may be swung against the side wall l2, as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5, or may be torn oil adjacent the edge of the side wall l2 along a tear line provided as already described, leaving the holster substantially as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The top flap I6 is swung downwardly against the outer base of the wall It, as shown in Fig. 7, where an intermediate position of the flap i6 is shown in dotted lines. This brings the apertures 29 of the flap l6 and of the side wall I 2 into substantial registration, as will be clear from Figs. 5 and 7. providing in effect a double thickness of material with an aperture through both thicknesses. If the end wall It has not been removed and is positioned as indicated in Fig. 5, the top flap it serves to hold it in its position overlying the side wall l2. Although the flap l6 and end Wall l5 are shown as overlying the outer face of the side wall 12, it will be clear that they may instead be swung to overlie the inner face of the wall, if desired.

The holster may now be supported on the body of the user, ordinarily at the hip, and as shown in Fig. 4, is particularly adapted to be supported by a trouser belt B or the like about the waist of the boy or other user of the gun. The belt B is threaded through one of the openings provided by the apertures 29 to pass into the holster and out. through the other opening provided by the other registering apertures 29. Thus, the holster of this invention does not require any special sup porting means or the purchase of additional equipment to provide for its support. At the same time, if it be desired to carry the gun elsewhere than at the hip, the holster readily lends itself to support of the gun at some other part of the body, as a shoulder holster, for example, by means of a suitable strap or similar band appropriately disposed on the body of the wearer.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the upper or access portion of the side wall I3 may be removed merely by tearing along the line 30, andthen swinging it along with the end wall I5 to a convenient position for tearing the end wall I5 from the side wall [2, or for severing the end wall l5 along a line of weakness provided in an intermediate portion thereof. If the access portion of the side wall I3 is severed from the end wall I5, and the latter employed as shown in Fig. 5, greater strength and rigidity is imparted to the holster at the rear portion thereof so as to increase its wearing life.

The access portion of the side wall is need not be entirely removed, but may be severed from the end wall i5 along the line 3! and'then folded over the lower portion of the side wall 13 on the line 3i), thus providing a double thickness along the new and lowered top edge of the side wall and providing a cuff or flap forstrength and rigidity in the side wall E3 to resist wear due to repea ted 1 drawing and replacing of the gun in the holster.

The upper portion of the side wall l3 may be secured in overlying position on the lower portion thereof by any suitable means, as for example a suitable slit (not shown) into which an edge portion of the folded part of the side wall may be inserted. Here again, the folded over portion may lie either inside or outside of the wall l3, as may be desired.

' It will be apparent from Figs. 1, 4 and 5 that the gun G is supported in the holster in a sufficiently loose manner to permit easy withdrawal and replacement thereof, yet securely enough to prevent the gun falling out of the holster unless the holster be tilted to a position far from normal. The muzzle of the gun rests upon the bottom wall and therefore cannot jam in the angle between the flaps l9 and El and the end wall I 4, and the butt of the gun is disposed above the top edge of the flaps so that it may readily be grasped by the hand because of the removal of the upper portion of the side wall is.

The provision of the holster adds greatly to the enjoyment of the gun, and as already ointed out, adds nothing to the cost. Furthermore, it does not require any additional or separate packaging operation or any sales effort, and in fact, the need for the latter is decreased, as explained. The holster is serviceable, and with due care will last for a considerable period because of the reinforcement provided at the portions of greatest wear or strain, particularly adjacent the apertures 29. In this commercial embodiment the container comprising the combined carton and holster it is, of course, suitably imprinted so as to increase its similarity to a real holster of leather or the like, and thus increase the enjoyment obtained therefrom.

It will be apparent that the disclosed embodiment of the invention may be varied and modified in many ways without departing from the purview of the invention. Some of the possible variations and modifications have been suggested in the above description, and others will readily suggest themselve to those skilled in the art. it is, therefore, not intended that the invention be limited to the particular construction shown and described.

I claim:

1. A combined carton and holster for a toy gun comprising a pair of parallel side walls generally conforming in shape to the outline of the gun,

wall elements connecting said side walls along defining edges thereof including a top flap hingedly connected to the top edge of one said side walls, a plurality of apertures in said one wall, a plurality of apertures in said top flap registrable with said wall apertures upon swinging of said top flap into overlying relation with said one wall, and a removable portion in the other side wall defined at least partially by the top edge thereof and a line of weakness in said other wall.

2. A collapsible combined carton and holster for a toy gun, comprising as a carton a pair of parallel side walls of similar shape corresponding- Y generally to the outline of said gun and each having only an upper portion of one longitudinal edge parallel to the other longitudinal edge and the lower portion of said one edge extending angularly between said upper portion and said other edge, end walls connecting said side walls along said upper portions and said other edges. flap means connecting said side walls between the lower eudsof-said end walls,

a top closure flap hinged on the top edge of one of said side walls, a plurality of apertureforniing portions in said top flap and in said one side wall with said apertures correspondingly located relative to the hinge line of said top flap and defined by lines of weakness, and a tear line in the other side wall extending from the top edge thereof to said lower end of said end wall connecting said upper edge portions, said aperture-forming portions being removable to provide apertures in said top flapand said one side wall registering upon disposition of said top flap overlying said one side wall and said other side wall having the portion thereof defined between its top edge and said tear line removable, whereby said carton may serve as a holster supported by a band threaded through said apertures and afiording ready access to said gun therein.

3. A combined carton and holster for a toy gun, comprising a pair of parallel side walls, wall elements connecting said side walls along edge portions thereof including a top fiap hingedly secured on the top edge of one of said walls, a plurality of aperture-forming portions in one of said walls, a plurality of aperture-forming portions in said top flap, said portions being defined by lines of weakness and disposed to have the flap portions substantially register with the wall portions upon disposition of said flap overlying said one wall, and an access portion in the other of said walls defined at least partially by the top edge thereof and a line extending therein below said top edge and adapted to be removed from the plane of said other wall to provide ready access to a gun in said combined carton and holster.

4. A collapsible combined carton and holster for a toy gun, comprising a pair of similar side walls of generally trapezoidal shape each having substantially parallel edge portions of differing lengths and a top edge portion substantially perpendicular to said parallel edge portions, end walls connecting said side walls along said parallel edge portions, tuck flaps connecting said side walls along other edge portions thereof including a top flap hinged on said top edge portion of one of said side walls, a plurality of apertures in said one side wall, a plurality of apertures in said top flap registrable with the side wall apertures upon movement of said top flap into overlying relation with said one side wall, a line in the other side wall extending from a point adjacent the lower end of the shorter end wall toward the top edge portion of said other side wall, and a line in one of said end walls extending from the said adjacent point and across said shorter end wall to define a removable portion of said other side wall and said shorter end wall for removal from said combined carton and holster to make available thereat the handle of a toy gun when supported therein.

5. A combined carton and holster for a toy gun comprising a pair of parallel side walls of generally trapezoidal shape having a top edge, end edges of differing lengths extending from said top edge in substantially perpendicular relation thereto, a bottom edge extending from the bottom end of the longer of said end edges, and an angled edge extending from the bottom end of the shorter of said end edges to said bottom edge, end walls connecting the end edges of said side walls, wall elements connecting the bottom edges and angled edges of said side walls, a top flap hinged on one of said side walls, a plurality .of aperture-forming portions defined in said one side wall and a plurality or" aperture-defining portions in said top flap registrable with said side wall portions upon disposition of said top flap overlying said one side wall, an access portion in the other side wall defined by the top edge thereof and a line extending from said top edge thereof to the bottom end of the shorter end wall, said access portion being removable from the plane of said other side wall along said line and said aperture-forming portions being removable from said one side wall and top flap to provide apertures therein.

6. A blank for a combined toy gun carton and holster, comprising a sheet of paperboard or like material cut and scored to define a pair of side wall panels and a pair oi end wall panels, said panels being alternately arranged, said side wall panels and one of said end wall panels being of substantially equal length and the other end wall panel being shorter, each of said side wall panels having an edge portion thereof extending from an end edge of said shorter panel at an angle toa point in alignment with the corresponding end edge of the longer end wall panel, a plurality of closure flap panels hingedly connected to at least one of said edge portions, a top closure flap panel hinged on another edge portion of one of said side Wall panels, a plurality of aperture-forming portions in each of said one side wall panel and said top flap panel defined by lines of weakness correspondingly located relative to the hinge line of said top flap panel, and a tear-away portion in the other side wall panel partially defined by a line of weakness extending to said end edge of said shorter end wall panel.

'7. A combined carton and holster device for a toy pistol type gun including a pair of parallel generally trapezoidal side walls, wall elements connecting said side Walls along the edges thereof including a fiap hinged on the top edge of one of said side walls, removable aperture-forming portions in said one side wall and said hinged flap adapted to be removed and the flap moved to bring the apertures therein into registry, and an access portion in the other of said side walls and in a connected wall element, said access portion being initially indicated in the body thereof by a line in said other side wall and said wall element and removable therealong to provide an opening in said device adjacent the position for a handle of a toy gun packaged therein, and said device being adapted for mounting as a holster upon threading a belt through said apertures in registry.

8. A device serving as a combined sales carton and holster for a toy pistol type gun with a barrel and a handle, comprising a pair of parallel side walls generally conforming in shape to the outline of such a toy gun, wall elements connecting said side walls, a top flap hingedly connected to the top edge of one of said side walls having apertures therein registrable with corresponding apertures in said one side wall to provide apertures in registry for receiving a belt threaded therein when the device is serving as a holster, and a removable portion in the other of said parallel side walls defined at least partially by the top edge thereof and a line in said other. side wall, said portion being removable from said device and adapted to make available at a resulting opening in the holster the handle of a toy pistol when carried therein.

9. A carton serving to initially package a toy pistol type gun and thereafter serve as a holster therefor, comprising a pair of parallel side walls generally conforming in shape to the outline of such a toy gun, wall elements connecting said side walls, apertured means including one of said side Walls adapted to have apertures in registry therewith and provide the same at the top part of the carton to receive a belt for supporting said carton as a holster, and a corresponding removable portion in at least one wall element and in said other side wall connected with such wall element, at the top part of each and at the top part of said carton, said portion being removable to provide an opening for access to the handle of a toy pistol when carried therein as in a holster.

ALFRED F. LANGOS,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,308,003 Gamrod Jan. 12, 1943 2,426,484 Bufienbarger Aug. 26, 1947 2,434,380 Williams M; Jan. 13, 1948 2,481,871 Potts Sept. 13, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date (170,997 Germany c Feb. 4, 1929 

